ATLANTA — I know it was a rough night and has been a rough day for many of you back in the D.C. area. Here's hoping everyone is managing to stay cool and that some of you are getting your power back. We had no storms here in Atlanta, but it's equally as hot, maybe hotter, with the thermometer expected to top out at 104 degrees right around 4:05 p.m. today when Stephen Strasburg and Mike Minor take the mound at Turner Field.

We'll see how Strasburg deals with the scorching heat, and we'll see if the Nationals' lineup can continue to produce the way it has the last four days. Through the first 71 games this season, this team averaged eight hits. Through the last four games, it's averaging 16 hits.

If you're able to watch the game today, enjoy. If not, I'll have plenty of updates and analysis right here…

Wow. Just heard about the storm in the DC area. My sympathies to those most affected and hopes that most of you don't fall into that category. Just back from a ten-day trip in the midwest, where I finally managed to visit Chicago when the Cubs were in town. And what did I get to see in my first ever game at Wrigley? The Mets beating the Cubbies 17-1. Hoping the Nats can keep scoring some runs, but perhaps not giving up as many.

Nats Lady — Thanks! As long as you're in the teaching mode, do you know if "derecho" refers to the path of the storm being straight or the shape of the front being straight? Or both? I'm wondering because hurricanes can though obviously don't always take a straight track, but their fronts are more or less circular.And tornados have no real front, though they can take a straight track. I don't think you really meant to get into it like this…. ;-)Don't worry, I'm off to that wedding shortly (taking GameDay on my iPhone, much to my wife's distress).

Derechos come from a band of thunderstorms that are bow- or spearhead-shaped on radar, and hence are also called a bow echo or spearhead radar echo. The size of the bow may vary, and the storms associated with the bow may die and redevelop. These straight-line winds can exceed 100 mi/h (160 km/h) (in some cases, sustained wind) in these clusters and straight-line wind gusts of up to 200 mi/h (320 km/h) are possible in the most extreme cases

nats lady – trip was great. got to go for a run in rome and florence in my 2005 nats hat. and everything else was great, too. saw our daughter sing in florence at st petes.and heared some charlie and dave on the wifi/MLB app during "day" games.still no word from the anthem guy ;-/gyfng

Boy, does the Braves' bench bother to read the stats on the other team? IBB to Flores to get to. Pitcher who's hitting .348 and a L-R matchup to boot?Stras must have been so pissed and got his revenge.

Ghost — makes all the sense in the world from a hitting perspective and he'd absolutely enjoy it. They just don't want him running the bases.Which is yet another weird symbol of how the game has changed since the pre-DH days when pitchers as batters, and occasionally PHs for the best of them, was just another part of the game.

I think the guys will need IV's by the end of the game.. I hate heatAmanda Comak‏@acomakTrue story RT @ajcbraves: Jumbotron just showed a temperature reading on the field here. it was pushing 120 degrees

Strassie doesn't cope well when the strike zone is jello. Bob and FP said at the beginning of the game that this ump is statistically the hardest to get a strike call from. Young pitcher disease — letting something get to you and then the game speeds up. Need more offense in a hurry.

I am guessing that SS is in uncharted waters at this point, games, innings, etc. One more start until the ASG? Then mental regrouping. This last month has been a grind, the pressure is huge every single day. 3 of our guys are so very young and even Gio and Ejax have shown signs of strain. I think a lot of the young pitchers we have faced are raw but rested. How many other teams have only used 6 starting pitchers? Our guys are pretty high in the innings pitched department — I know it might now seem like it, but few of our guys have had the early heave ho. Combine that with the AL east and west gauntlet, Colorado and the heat – wow.

It's really crazy hot, but I hope this San Diego boy knows enough to stay plenty hydrated. I already thought he wasn't going past five just for the weather, but these guys need to stay careful. As do the umpires, who don't get to go into a dugout for half the game. What do they do in the minors, especially in Texas? Besides play night games?

From Davey's perspective … Strasburg has been described as looking "beat". Its super hot and humid. A pitcher gets tired. In other words: perfect weather for a ONE PITCH sinker ball like Wang. As I;ve said from the beginning Wang is and was a MONSTER mistake by Davey Johnson. Major league and AAA hitters will continue to rake against him. Its the starters version of Lidge. But, if Wang is going to be successful this is exactly they type of conditions you want … BUT I don't think he will. Prepare for fireworks.

This is one thing about getting Tyler Moore's bat in the game–he can't play right, but Morse really isn't ideal there, either, and they will run on his arm every chance they get. They bring more offense than they cost in D, I think, but it's there.

Did you hear the discussion about safety and this heat? At what point would they postpone? Hope STrassie is ok. I feel that CMW has been given so much by the Nats – he owes the team at this point. And if he cannot contribute when the team needs him – what good is he? I don't give a crap about his long warm up – adjust — everyone else has to. Prima Donna.

Peric, just for today, can we not complain about a game or a player. If Davey is raising the white flag, so be it. Let's move on and be more concerned that we get out of this game without injuries or illness

They bring more offense than they cost in D, I think, but it's there.Works with strike out/ground ball pitcher like Stras. If Wang;'s sinker ball actually sunk it would work with him too. But it doesn't' and likely never will again.Chalk this up as a loss and blame it directly on Davey Johnson.

If Davey is raising the white flag, so be it.ONLY a ONE run deficit? Against a major NL East divisional opponent?Nope, putting Wang (and bringing him in in the first place) lies on Davey Johnson. Its a major mistake no matter how you slice it Michele.

Notice all the fly balls? That is not a good sign if your pitcher is a plus-plus sinkerballer.There is no logical reason for bringing Wang in this situation against Atlanta even if its to justify putting him on the waiver wire.

Peric, Someone had to take one for the team. Stammen just pitched 3 innings in Denver so if you use Gorzo here you have no one if Gio can't go long tomorrow, I agree CMW is bad but there weren't many good options today.

And I agree with a lot of you .Today's goals — get out of this with no one on either side seriously ill. And show CMW for the waste of a spot on the 25 man that he is. I hope everyone gets in the game today just like little league. We don't want to keep anyone in the game very long. Tomorrow could be worse with the earlier start. This kind of weather just screams out for a pitch to contact type pitcher. Unfortunately Stras and Gio are not that type. CMW is supposed to be. I would love to see him stay in this game, bear down and give something back to the team.

Doom Squad's electricity gets fixed that same inning. What are the odds?I'm at the beach with plenty of power and no loss … and …You're boring me back to death bed-bug ridden sofa. This was a definite mistake on Davey's part. But he has to prove he was right about Wang … Davey sorry but you were waaaaay wrong. You can see his corollary in the minors in Cole Kimball. Neither will ever be the same unfortunately.

More seriously, Wang didn't help, but Strasburg wasn't going to pitch any better under the circumstances. Maybe Minor is just one of those guys who likes the heat, or maybe he's just drinking more gatorade. Certainly there's no guarantee they would win if the gametime temp were 75 degrees, and technically, they haven't lost yet. Even a game against the primary competition in your division is still only one game.

Give it at rest, peric. Davey manages for the season, not the game. Wang is EXACTLY the right pitcher to bring in in this situation. As you point out, these are conditions under which he should be effective if his sinker is working. If not, let him eat up innings and spare the rest of the bullpen.

Secret, it's 118 or whatever on the field. Some metabolisms handle that better than others. I love hot weather, and I've still gotten close to heat stroke catching in this kind of stuff. The MLB rules clearly stipulate that the players have to be human beings. You could look it up.

Why is Wang in the majors? What a joke. I find it disgusting that a guy leaves because he overheats. It's not like 105 degrees came as a surprise. Who prepares these guys? Bringing in Wang is a giveup. THATS NOT FAIR TO THE OTHER PLAYERS> SHAME ON YOU DAVEY!!!!

Bringing in Wang is a giveup.Nope, I believe Davey was actually hoping that the combination of Wang's extra long warm up and the heat (making his arm feel tired) would make his sinker sink more.Seems like a lot of fly balls and few grounders though. Teach Wang the knuckle ball.

Swami I agree. 6-5 or 26-2 whats the difference. It just makes me angry that we basically lose a game because of heat. We lost one earlier because Stras put cream on his (you know what). Truly embarassing.

Lannan in his last 6 games has a 2.29 ERA. In his last 3 games, he's only given up 3 earned runs for a sparkling 1.40 ERA.At this point it's clear to anyone paying attention Wang is being used as a mop-up innings eater, but he's not even doing that well. At this point in the game, he's at 40 pitches through 1.2 innings and has given up 4 runs. Add that to his disastrous inning of work in Colorado, and you have a totally ineffective pitcher.I'm with Peric, DFA Wang.

FP and Carp brought up a good point. Apparantly, the CO Trainers look at the game after Denver to see how guys react. The results are usually not good. So we have broiling heat at high altitude and now broiling heat in Atlanta. Fun Times for the team.

NatsLady, I too was hoping that CMW comes all the way back and maybe he will but I don't see how he retains a roster spot when both Henry and Storen are almost ready. I think Davie and Rizzo were counting on CMW to start at least when SS is shut down. Now I think it will have to be plan B.

SS is 23 years old – first full major league season – Tommy John survivor – extreme conditions. Remember the interview Jordan did about his first season? He said there are days that nothing works during the recovery process. This guy is a number one starter on a first place team at his age. He is going to have ugly starts. Lincecum won a cy young and is just figuring it out this year. Cliff Less has zero wins this year. Being a big league pitcher is not easy. I think maybe in these conditions he should be instructed to strike out. A long first innings for him and on base twice – cuts in to the time for you to hydrate.

FP actually made a lucid point about the post-Coors Field recovery affect, and how it affects athletes. Apparently the Rockies track pitchers in their first start AFTER Mile High. It takes a lot out of them. Makes sense. As if Jesus needed it, it got even worse for him.I hope Davey gets Dog Meat out of there for the bottom of the sixth 'cuz I sense our bats are breaking out. The heat's gotta be affecting the Atlanta hurlers too.

Soul — he CAN'T play right? or he never has played there? These guys are pretty good athletes. Morse has played more right for us than anyone else – he started there when he first came here.Poor choice of words–I should have said something to the effect of "Davey can't put him there as a regular thing, given that he is a first baseman learning the outfield on the MLB job, and left is challenging enough." "Can't" is shorter, but not true.

Looks like Gorzo is coming in anyway? They'd be winning over the Braves …And then Davey pinch hits Ankiel? A home run one of out 10 times or an sure strike out or double play? Sorry, but, very poorly managed game by Davey Johnson.

"Can't" is shorter, but not true.In Morse's case with the ham string and the recent oblique issues? IN right field. Closer to "can't" unfortunately. He belongs at first given the injuries, perhaps more than Zimmerman and I believe Zimmerman belongs there. LaRoche has to be the odd man out. Corey Brown is raking. Time to bring the younger left-handed bat and see what happens. Definitely a better choice and gamble than continuing to try a 32 year old massive shoulder surgery sinker ball pitcher over-and-over again. C'mon Davey!

Peric,I have a question for you. You criticize DJ for bringing in Wang yet you admit the long relief corps is used up. You also critizcize Johnson for PH with Ankiel. Criticism is fair play, I have no problem with that. But do tell, if you were tha manager of the Nats today, what moves would you have made in those same situations? Who would have come in to pitch in relief of Stras? Who would you send up to pinch hit?

Wang is making a strong case for the Nats to reinstate Henry Rodriguez. Another pitcher in the minors currently under the radar but who could help is Christian Garcia in Syracuse, a one-time, highly regarded Yankee prospect coming back from TJ surgery. He could be the next Ryan Mattheus.

As for Harper – I heard of many instances in baseball history where 19yr olds were awful their first season and then terrific in their second. He is fully and completely holding his own in his first season – kind of like Griffey. That makes me smile. He really worries about not contributing to the team and holding up his end of things. What a good kid.

One thing that should be noted in Harper's current 0-fer streak. Several times he has made a productive out moving a runner over. I believe he contributed to that first inning run by doing that. Say what you will about what the Nats were up against today. They battle all the way and they never, ever give up. How good does the gorse hacking look these days?

NatsLady, As of right now Gorzo > CMW by a good margin. I do feel that CMW will again be effective but I think that someone will have to put him in their rotation and just live with it until he regains the feel of his sinker and it's tough to do when you are competing for a playoff spot.

Mats Jack, I noticed that about Peric. When he doesn't have a good answer he just turtles. Saying that ALR should be the off man out is not serious. Rotating Brown with Moore and Lombo makes more sense.

JD, I agree with you. CMW can't get back to form with one inning here or there–that's not the way he gets his sinker back. The injury in spring training was just SO bad for him because he won't recover in one or two or three outings, and the Nats can't wait for him, because the race is too close. You can see flashes of his old brilliance, but no consistency at all.I hate to say Rizzo will have to get what he can for him and then he will have to get another SP unless he thinks Lannan can do it (I don't but that's just me).

Replace SS with Lannan? that's a recipe for a meltdown. I don't want Lannan, Maya or Duke. There's a bunch of pitchers that will be moved at the deadline but I,m concerned that we can't get a good one (Dempster, Garza, Greinke, Rodriguez, Hammels) with the few prospects we have left. These guys will cost all cost premium packages (I,m talkin at least Rendon + Goodwin) and I just don't know if it's worth the cost.

JD, I am with you. I have no faith in Lannan or any of the other guys in Syracuse. Rizzo will have to decide if this is the year or not. Personally, I don't think it is, and he should not blow a bunch of prospects, rather wait for a full year of Stras and a more mature Harper in 2013. I'm not giving up on this season, don't get me wrong, but it would have to be very lucky.

We could get lucky, though. All it would take is for the offense to keep hitting and the pitching staff as currently constituted to build us up a nice lead by the end of August, say 9 or 10 games, and then play .500 ball in September. So you need Gio and Stras and JZ to keep up their level of work, and Det and EJax to step it up just a notch. It can be done.